The Difference between Yogurt & Pudding

In the United States, yogurt is typically marketed as a healthy lunch or snack.

Pudding and yogurt refer to a variety of foods eaten throughout the world for centuries. Depending on where it is made and what ingredients have been used, yogurt or pudding can be eaten as a snack, a dessert or an entree. Among their differences is that puddings are generally cooked and yogurt is created through a chemical reaction.

Yogurt

Typical commercial yogurt is sweetened and flavored with fruit.

Yogurt refers to a thick, creamy dairy dish that gets its consistency through a process known as bacterial fermentation. During this process, bacteria act on a sugar in the milk called lactose, creating a chemical called lactic acid. This acid changes the texture of the milk and gives it a tangy flavor. Commercial yogurt is often sweetened and then flavored with fruit.

English Pudding

In the United Kingdom, "pudding" refers to either a dessert or savory dish made from a grain product mixed with a binder such as butter, flour, eggs or suet that is then baked steamed or boiled. These puddings can include Christmas pudding, rice pudding, black pudding and Yorkshire pudding. The word "pudding" also sometimes refers to dessert in general.

Creamy Pudding

U.S. pudding is closely related to custard.

The dessert Americans call "pudding" has a creamy texture similar to custard and is usually served chilled. It is made from sweetened milk thickened with cornstarch, rice, gelatin, eggs or tapioca. They are typically cooked on the stove top in a saucepan or double boiler or baked in the oven. However, instant puddings are also popular.

References

• Encylopedia of Food and Culture: Custards and Puddings
• Food Timeline: Pudding, Custards and Creams
• "The Book of Yogurt"; Sonia Uvezian; 1999